EXPERIENCE WITH PRIMARY EXETER TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH SMALL FEMURS - REVIEW AT AVERAGE FOLLOW-UP PERIOD OF 6 YEARS

One hundred twelve hips in 101 Chinese patients received a primary cem ented Exeter total hip arthroplasty (Howmedica, Hong Kong). Average ag e was 65 years. The most common diagnosis was avascular necrosis. Aver age follow-up period was 6 years (range, 3 years to 9 years, 6 months) . The Harris hip score improved from a preoperative average of 41.2 to 82.2 at the last follow-up visit. Stem subsidence within the cement m antle occurred in 9% of the cases, and none of these stems had other e vidence of loosening. Three hips in two patients were revised because of loosening at 5 to 8 years after surgery. Because of the small size of the femurs, stem oversizing was common. Oversizing of the stem and an incomplete cement mantle might account for the early loosening. Ste ms of a smaller size should be made available to this population.